Contact Email

History

Author Content

Being a police chief for 10 years is notable. Holding the job for 20 years is a milestone. In River Falls, Roger Leque has reached a milestone. It was this month 20 years that he replaced departing Jack Arndt as acting police chief.

A lazy black bear helped itself to an easy meal of bird seed on the back yard deck at the Fredrich home in the town of Troy, near Townsvalley and East Cove roads (just east of County Road F) Wednesday evening, July 20. The bear stayed for about 40 minutes until it was full. It also pressed its nose to the patio door to get a better look inside at the Fredrich's dog, then climbed over the deck railing and wobbled off into the woods. The Fredrichs plan to remove all the bird food so the bear doesn't return again.

Political rookie BJ Cook's drive to become an independent candidate in the 10th Senate District recall election was short lived but what he stands for may live on. Cook, 29, a city of River Falls resident, claims to represent the middle ground, compromise, common sense and the interests of the average person. "I'm tired of the polarization of both Democrats and Republicans," he said.

Eighty-one-year-old Calvin Jennings survived two days in the woods trapped in his skid loader before being extricated by River Falls ambulance and fire workers late Wednesday morning, July 20. The incident took place on Jennnings farm on County Road F four miles west of River Falls. Jennings was found by a hired hand who had come to help with chores.

When a River Falls police officer pulls you over for one thing, it can lead to something else. A 24-year-old Plum City woman allegedly made an illegal U-turn downtown at Main and Walnut streets at 2 a.m. Saturday. When questioned about the U-turn, an officer smelled alcohol coming from her car. The woman ended up with two fines totaling more than $800 - for the illegal turn and for drunk driving. At 1:20 a.m.

Police officers more than earned their pay this past week, topped off by plenty of weekend antics related to people celebrating River Falls Days. On Saturday morning a young man fled after being kicked out of a house party on West Park Street. At the party he'd taken a picture of two women kissing. After being kicked out on the street, he screamed homophobic slurs and pulled down his pants, allegedly exposing himself. The suspect, described as white, in his 20s, bald, wearing a blue shirt and plaid shorts, ran away through back yards before officers arrived.

Patrick Sobota, 56, of rural Wilson died Tuesday from injuries suffered in an ATV crash. The St. Croix County Sheriff's Department received a missing persons report in the town of Cady at around 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, July 5. Initial information indicated that a man left the American Legion in Wilson at approximately 8:30 p.m. Monday evening, July 4, on a Polaris 500 X2 four-wheeler and did not arrive home. There was no contact with the individual since that time. Deputies responded to the area and assisted family and friends with an extensive ground search of the area.

Paul Tiger and Kim Rogers, W12019 742 Ave. (Gateway Valley development) went before the Clifton Town Board Tuesday night, July 5, to complain that their hand-planted native prairie grasses and flowers in the ditch by their home had been mowed to the ground. Tiger and Rogers said they planted the grasses and flower to prevent erosion. They also claimed the plants keep the soil in their ditch and culvert from washing out. Town Board Supervisor Greg Eggers said Clifton contracts to mow ditches 33 feet from the center of the road. "It's a town road," Eggers said. "It has to be maintained.

River Falls police cited three young men for their alleged roles in a large-scale scuffle at Ramer Field on the UW-River Falls campus last Friday, July 1, around 3 a.m. The men were part of two groups who were leaving Main Street bars and arguing. The groups agreed to meet at Ramer and duke it out. The results were some minor injuries - cuts and bruises, a swollen eye. Some of the men fled as city and campus police officers converged on the fighters. Three men in their early 20s, one from River Falls and two from Hudson, were cited for disorderly conduct.

A young man, perhaps a teenager, comes to the door. He says he's selling magazines to earn money for a trip to Mexico. The woman in the house says no, she's not buying anything. The older teenager -- described by police as a white male, dark hair, olive complexion, possibly drunk or high, with bad B.O. -- then asks repeatedly if he can use the woman's bathroom. She says no and won't allow him in the house.